The Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 1 – Part 7

Yang Tiexin turned and saw, sure enough, a troop of soldiers bearing torches in pursuit. He set his teeth and said, “Big Brother is dead. I must save Big Sister-in-law no matter what, and preserve the Guo family’s blood. If Heaven takes pity on us, you and I may yet meet again.”

Bao Xiruo clung tightly to her husband’s neck, refusing to let go. She wept and said, “We must never be parted. You said so. Even if we must die, we die together! Didn’t you? You said so.”

Yang Tiexin’s heart ached. He embraced his wife and kissed her, then steeled himself and pulled her hands free. He seized his spear and charged forward. After several dozen paces he glanced back and saw his wife collapsed in the dust, weeping, while the soldiers had already reached her.

Yang Tiexin wiped the tears, sweat and blood from his face with his sleeve. He had long since put life and death beyond thought. At a moment like this, rescuing his sister-in-law came first. He pressed on and soon seized another horse. Grabbing hold of a soldier, he demanded to know where Li Ping was, and learned she was just ahead.

He galloped on. Suddenly he heard a woman shouting and yelling in the wood beside the road. He hastily wheeled his horse about and charged into the trees, and saw that Li Ping had already freed her hands of their bonds and was grappling with two soldiers. She was a farm woman, sturdy and strong, and though she knew no martial arts, she was fighting wildly for all she was worth, and had a fierce courage all her own. The two soldiers laughed and cursed, yet for the moment could do nothing with her. Without another word Yang Tiexin charged in and ran them through, one thrust of the spear apiece, killing both. He helped Li Ping up onto his horse, and with the two of them riding together, he turned back to look for his wife.

When he reached the place where he had parted from Bao Xiruo, there was no one there. By now the sky was growing light. He dismounted to look, and saw the ground trampled with hoofprints, along with the marks of a body being dragged. His wife, he supposed, had been carried off by the soldiers again.

Yang Tiexin leapt hastily into the saddle and kicked wildly at the horse’s belly with both feet. Stung, the horse sprang away at full speed. He was riding hard when suddenly a horn sounded from beside the road, and a dozen black-clad warriors burst out. The man in the lead swung a wolf-tooth club¹ down at his head. Yang Tiexin blocked with his spear and countered with a thrust. The man swept his club sideways in a strange arc, a style that seemed to belong to no school of the Central Plains.

Yang Tiexin had once discussed martial arts with Guo Xiaotian. They had spoken of the brave men of Liangshan Marsh² in days past, and how one among them, Qin Ming,³ nicknamed Thunderbolt Fire, wielded the wolf-tooth club to such perfection that none could rival him. Beyond Qin Ming, few men of valour of the wulin⁴ ever used the weapon, for it was so heavy that only a man of tremendous strength could handle it with any skill. The Jin Empire’s officers, however, favoured it greatly. The Jurchens had grown up in the bitter cold of Liaodong, where men were broad and powerful and weapons heavy, so that on the battlefield a weighty club gave its bearer the advantage. When the Jin armies had first swept south, they had smashed through Song soldiers and civilians alike with their wolf-tooth clubs. The common people, stung to bitterness, had turned the thing into a jest. One man said, “What’s there to fear from the Jin troops? For every weapon of theirs, we have one to match it.” The other said, “The Jin have Wanyan Zongbi.⁵” The first man replied, “We have Han Shizhong.⁶” “The Jin have the flanking cavalry.” “We have the horse-hacking blades.” “The Jin have the wolf-tooth club.” “We have the crown of the head.” For the crown of the head was what a Song commoner had to meet the club with, and the jest carried in its humour a grief beyond measure.

Now, as Yang Tiexin exchanged several blows with the wolf-tooth club man, he recalled that old conversation with Guo Xiaotian, and his suspicion grew. The fellow’s club-technique was plainly that of a Jin officer. What business had he here? A few more exchanges, and Yang Tiexin quickened his spear-thrusts and ran the man through, spilling him from the saddle. The rest cried out in alarm and scattered in flight.

Yang Tiexin twisted round to check whether Li Ping, riding behind him, had been hurt in the fight. Suddenly a cold arrow flew from among the trees. Yang Tiexin had no time to dodge, and the shaft pierced clean through his back. Li Ping cried out in terror, “Brother-in-law, an arrow! An arrow!” Yang Tiexin’s heart went cold, and he thought, Who’d have thought I would die here today! But before I die I must scatter these bandit soldiers, so Big Sister-in-law can get away. He shook his spear and let out a great shout, charging towards the thickest press of soldiers. The wound in his back throbbed with savage pain, darkness rushed before his eyes, and he collapsed across the saddle.

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Bao Xiruo, pushed aside by her husband, felt her heart cut as though with a knife. In an instant the soldiers were upon her. Before she could dodge, several men had hoisted her onto a horse. A military officer held a torch to her face and studied her carefully, then nodded and said, “It’s her. Who’d have thought those two southern barbarians had it in them? They’ve wounded a good many of our brothers.” Another officer laughed and said, “Well, the job’s done at last. After all this trouble, each of us ought to get a dozen-odd liang⁷ of silver in reward at least.” The first officer said, “Hmph. Let’s hope our superiors don’t skim too much off the top.” He turned to the horn-blower and said, “Sound the recall.” The trooper raised his horn and blew three long notes.

Bao Xiruo swallowed her sobs, her thoughts only of her husband, not knowing whether he still lived. Dawn had broken now, and travellers were appearing on the road. Common folk who saw the soldiers kept well away. At first Bao Xiruo had feared the men would harm her, but to her surprise the officers spoke and behaved with a degree of courtesy, and she calmed herself a little.

They had gone only a few li when a great clamour rose ahead. A dozen black-clad men, weapons in hand, burst from beside the road. The man in front shouted, “Shameless soldiers, slaughtering innocent folk. Dismount, all of you, and yield your lives.” The leading officer was furious. “What lawless bandits dare cause disorder in the capital region? Clear off at once!” The black-clad men wasted no more words but charged into the soldiers’ ranks, and both sides were locked in combat. The soldiers outnumbered their foes, yet every one of the black-clad men was a master of martial arts, and for a time neither side could gain the upper hand.

Bao Xiruo was secretly glad and thought, Could it be that Brother Tie’s friends have had word and come to rescue me? In the midst of the fighting an arrow flew and struck her horse’s hindquarter. The beast, stung with pain, bolted north at a gallop.

Bao Xiruo clung to the horse’s neck in terror, afraid of falling. Behind her she heard rapid hoofbeats as a rider came after her. In a flash a black horse swept past alongside, its rider wielding a long rope. He whirled it several times in the air, and with a whoosh the rope flew out, its loop settling over Bao Xiruo’s mount. The two horses ran side by side. The man gradually shortened his rope, and both horses slowed. After another several dozen paces he gave a sharp whistle, and his black mount halted. Bao Xiruo’s horse, checked by the rope, could not go forward. It let out a long whinny and reared up on its hind legs.

Bao Xiruo, exhausted by the long night, frightened and heartbroken, could no longer hold the reins. Her hands loosened, and she fell from the horse, losing consciousness.

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She did not know how long she lay in that dark sleep. When at last she drifted back to awareness, she seemed to be lying on a soft bed, with a quilt over her, warm and comforting. She opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a blue-patterned cloth bed curtain. She was indeed in a bed. She turned her head and saw an oil-lamp burning on a table beside the bed, and what seemed to be a man in black sitting on its edge.

The man heard her stir and rose at once. He drew back the curtain gently and asked in a low voice, “Are you awake?” Bao Xiruo’s mind had not yet fully returned. The face seemed somehow familiar. He laid a hand on her brow and said softly, “Burning hot. The physician will be here presently.” Bao Xiruo sank back into a drowsy sleep.

After a time she was dimly aware of a physician taking her pulse, and someone coaxing medicine between her lips. She slept on, and in her sleep cried out suddenly, “Brother Tie, Brother Tie!” Then she felt a hand patting her shoulder gently, and a voice murmuring comfort.

When she woke again it was broad daylight, and she could not help moaning aloud. Someone drew near and opened the curtain. Face to face now, Bao Xiruo saw him clearly and was startled. The man’s features were fine and handsome, the corners of his mouth curled in a faint smile. It was the dying young man she had rescued in the snow months ago.

Bao Xiruo said, “Where is this? Where is my husband?” The young man raised a hand, signalling her to be quiet, and said in a low voice, “The soldiers outside are hunting hard. We are lodging at a farmer’s house. This lowly one has taken the liberty of claiming to be your husband. Please do not give us away.” Bao Xiruo flushed and nodded. Then she asked again, “Where is my husband?” The man said, “My lady is still weak. When you are well again, I will tell you everything, little by little.”

Bao Xiruo was seized with dread. His tone seemed to say her husband had come to harm. She clutched the edge of the quilt with both hands and asked, her voice trembling, “He… he… what happened to him?” The man only said, “Fretting will not help, my lady. You must look after yourself.” Bao Xiruo said, “Is he… is he dead?” The man’s face showed helplessness. He nodded and said, “Master Yang met with misfortune. Those villainous soldiers killed him.” He shook his head with a sigh. Bao Xiruo’s grief overwhelmed her, and she fainted. It was a long time before she came to, and then she wept aloud.

The man comforted her in a gentle voice. Bao Xiruo managed, between sobs, to ask, “How… how did he die?” The man said, “Was Master Yang a man in his twenties, tall and broad-shouldered, who fought with a long spear?” Bao Xiruo said, “Yes.” The man said, “I saw him fighting the soldiers yesterday. He killed several of them. Alas… alas, one officer crept round behind him and ran him through the back with a spear.”

Bao Xiruo, whose love for her husband was deep, fainted again. For the rest of the day she would take neither food nor water, resolved to starve herself and follow him in death. The man did not press her. He spent the day speaking to her in refined, gentle tones to ease her sorrow. In the end Bao Xiruo began to feel she was imposing on him, and asked, “Might I ask your name, young sir?⁸ How did you know I was in trouble and come to my aid?” The man said, “This lowly one is named Yan Lie.⁹ Yesterday I was passing through with several friends when we came upon the soldiers harming the villagers. I could not stand by and watch. I did not expect that Heaven would reward me, and that the person I rescued would be my great benefactor. Truly, a fateful meeting made in Heaven.”

When Bao Xiruo heard the words made in Heaven, colour rose to her cheeks. She turned away towards the wall and did not speak. Turning it over in her mind, she suddenly grew suspicious. She faced him again and said, “You were with the soldiers all along.” Yan Lie said, “What… what do you mean?” Bao Xiruo said, “That day, weren’t you with the soldiers when they came to arrest that Daoist Elder? That was how you were wounded, wasn’t it?” Yan Lie said, “That day I was wrongly treated. I had come from the north, bound for Lin’an.¹⁰ Passing through your village, I was struck in the shoulder by an arrow for no reason at all. Had my lady not saved me, I would have died without understanding why. What was it they wanted with that Daoist priest, anyway? Daoist priests catch ghosts, and soldiers catch Daoist priests. What a muddle.” He laughed as he spoke.

Bao Xiruo said, “Ah, so you were just passing through, not one of them. I had thought you came to arrest Daoist Elder too. That day I really didn’t want to save you.” She told him how the soldiers had come to arrest Qiu Chuji,¹¹ and how he had scattered them.

She had spoken for a while when she noticed him gazing at her, his face lost in a kind of adoration, as if his mind were elsewhere. She stopped. Yan Lie smiled apologetically and said, “Forgive me. I was thinking how we might get away without being caught by the soldiers again.”

Bao Xiruo wept and said, “My… my husband is dead. What do I have to live for? You should go on without me.”

Yan Lie said gravely, “My lady, your husband was murdered by bandit soldiers, his death unavenged. Yet instead of finding a way to avenge him, you think only of dying. In life your husband was a hero and a man of valour. I fear that in the Nine Springs below he could never close his eyes.”

Bao Xiruo said, “I am only a weak woman. How could I possibly avenge him?” Yan Lie’s face kindled with righteous indignation. He said, head held high, “If my lady wishes to avenge her husband’s murder, leave that to me. Do you know who the enemy is?” Bao Xiruo thought for a moment and said, “The officer commanding the soldiers was named Duan Tiande.¹² He has a blade scar on his forehead and a blue birthmark on his face.” Yan Lie said, “With a name and a mark to go on, he could flee to the ends of the earth and still I would hunt him down for this.” He went out and returned with a bowl of thin gruel, a peeled salted egg floating in it. He said, “If you do not care for your own life, how will you avenge him?” Bao Xiruo saw the sense in this. She took the bowl and ate slowly. Then, amidst her grief, she drifted into sleep.

The following morning Bao Xiruo rose, dressed, and combed her hair before the mirror. She found a scrap of white cloth, cut a white flower from it, and tucked it into her hair, in mourning for her husband. In the mirror her face was as lovely as a flower, yet she and her husband were sundered by the boundary of the living and the dead. Grief rose in her, and she wept again.

Yan Lie came in from outside. When her sobs had eased a little, he said gently, “The soldiers have all gone from the road. We can leave now.” Bao Xiruo followed him out of the house. Yan Lie took out an ingot of silver and gave it to the farmer who owned the house, then led out the two horses. Bao Xiruo’s mount still bore its arrow wound, but Yan Lie had bound and dressed it.

Footnotes

1. 狼牙棒 — lángyábàng. Literally wolf-tooth club. A heavy war club, usually long-hafted, its head studded with iron spikes; commonly mistranslated as “mace”. ↩

2. 梁山泊 — Liángshān Bó. Liangshan Marsh, the marshland stronghold of the 108 outlaws of the late Northern Song celebrated in the classic novel Water Margin. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 秦明 — Qín Míng. Nicknamed Thunderbolt Fire (霹雳火), one of the 108 outlaws of Water Margin, famed for his wolf-tooth club. ↩

4. 武林 — wǔlín. Literally martial forest. Those who actually practise, teach or study martial arts. The wulin sits inside the jianghu and is narrower than it: every member of the wulin belongs to the jianghu, but a pedlar or physician of the jianghu who never trained is no part of the wulin. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 金兀朮 — Jīn Wùzhú. Wuzhu of the Jin, the popular name of the Jurchen prince Wanyan Zongbi (完颜宗弼), one of the chief commanders of the Jin war against the Southern Song. ↩

6. 韩世忠 — Hán Shìzhōng. The celebrated Song general who fought the Jin armies. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

7. 两 — liǎng. A traditional unit of weight, one-sixteenth of a jin, and the unit in which silver was reckoned. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 相公 — xiànggōng. A courteous address to a young man of standing, and also how a wife addresses her husband. ↩

9. 颜烈 — Yán Liè. ↩

10. 临安府 — Lín’ān Fǔ. Capital prefecture of the Southern Song dynasty, modern-day Hangzhou. See Wikipedia. ↩

11. 丘处机 — Qiū Chǔjī. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

12. 段天德 — Duàn Tiāndé. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩